Defence force joins rescue mission in flood-ravaged Port St Johns

Residents have been evacuated after torrential rain caused flooding in the town of Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape on Monday, April 22 2019. Image: Twitter/Bantu Holomisa

The SA national defence force (SANDF) arrived in Port St Johns on Tuesday to help rescue and evacuate hundreds of residents left homeless by torrential overnight rains that flooded the coastal town in the Eastern Cape.

Defence and military veterans minister Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula said military rescue teams were dispatched to affected areas where they will work with other disaster teams.

People affected by the floods would be moved to higher ground and shelters.

Initial reports on Monday night by the SABC said that hundreds of people, mostly women and children, were evacuated from the badly flooded Green Farm in the coastal town.

Khunjulwa Mlata told the broadcaster: "I discovered when I go out again that the room was full of water. All the belongings inside were just swept away. I took the kids outside to the municipality vehicle that was standing outside already. We just decided to take the kids."

OR Tambo district municipality spokesperson Andile Duka told TimesLIVE that rescue teams had evacuated a large number of people until late on Monday evening after heavy downpours.

Residents had been taken to safety at the town hall and churches.

"This morning reports came via various mediums about flooding occuring at Green Farm. Further reports were received of river flooding in Ngqeleni under Nyandeni local municipality and Blekana River in King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality," said Duka.

People driving between Port St Johns and Mthatha are warned to be on the lookout for falling rocks and mudslide/landslide caused by heavy rains pouring since Easter Weekend. @eNCA@sapic.twitter.com/BJM1VtiUQU